Spring snowdrops

Spring is coming! Interesting complex snowdrop near Latchley today.

natural framing

one doesn't have to try very hard around here to find a photograph.

our lane

not much to say, autumn is gathering pace

Home again

 Alaska was stunning with its beautiful blues, whites and greys but there is something incomparably beautiful about the green landscape of England and especially Cornwall as it blossoms in late Spring.

light in the lanes

Storm clouds ahead on a sunny evening. We are lingering somewhere between Winter and Spring. When Spring finally comes it is going to be short and very energetic and everything will be out at the same time, more like North America than our usual languid season.

snow falls

and so it snowed a few inches, enough to bring everything to a slippery halt. The quick thaw allowed some colour to creep through the white.

the empire declines

when the Romans left Britain in the fifth century amongst the first things to deteriorate were the magnificent roads they had built and maintained.  It looks like we are repeating history post empire. People before infrastructure?

in conversation

passing the time of day, no hurry.

sleepy mornings

a quiet morning walk

as green as it gets

after all the rain, and a little warm sun the countryside is a rich rich green, a temperate jungle with roads.

giving way

a traffic jam on a sunny evening (large dog behind pony is Sox, not visible is shetland pony on leading rein, and Jess, spaniel of Goosewell, below, who was all dressed up in hot pursuit of Harriet, who also is feeling quite hot)

lanes

the lanes have finally achieved their full summer livery and the canopy has closed in; just as the sun disappears for another 4 weeks.

at the end of the day

the first sunny evening for several weeks ended in a blaze of glory during our evening walk.  It is worth checking the lane label to see how this little lane can be so colourful and change so much. It was interesting to hear David Hockney talking about this exact same issue on Sunday (on Countryfile), walking through the same landscape day after day one starts to see rather than look.

not quite Provence

a field full of sunflowers in Venterdon, looking south towards the church, and Kit Hill in the distance. And the lane in its autumnal livery against a blue sky providing another example of Nature's painting.

lane warfare

On our walk this evening the lane was full of red admirals and speckled wood butterflies. They seem to take possession and guard 5 or 10 metres of hedgerow, racing up and down and fighting off all intruders. The air was full of butterflies being aggressive, and this rather battered individual was taking a breather before lurching (appropriate word for this blog) off to do some more fighting. So much for the quiet life. More like boy racers.

summer colours

On Rowden lane. Is there a hint of autumn in these colours?

human landing strip

 

In late May and early June, especially on warm days, you can see these longhorned moths performing little dances in the lanes, rising and falling before they mate. Here they are taking a rest before resuming the great battle to procreate.

green lane

the canopy of leaves is almost complete and once more the lanes have become long green tunnels

more from aladdin's cave

another magical image from our favourite lane, thanks to the exceptionally hard frost

aladdin's cave

freezing fogs, mist, and hoar frost are making for magical morning walks.